I made it back to the yard yesterday. I'll be hauling a load home this time around. I need the time off after more than two months on the road. As Monday is a holiday my first stop, in Savannah, GA, won't be until Tuesday so I had some time to kill.

I wanted to get a room for the night but as this is the 105th anniversary weekend event for Harley Davidson I suspected that getting a room would be both difficult and expensive.  I was right.

I called my usual hotel and they told me they were booked solid with most reservations having been made five years ago. Wow. I called a couple of others and found a room at the Clarion, which is on the opposite side of Applebee's from my usual hotel. They quoted me a price of $144 for the night.

Oh well, I really, really wanted a room so I drove on over. When I got there and the desk clerk learned who I work for she knocked ten bucks off the room rate. Quite nice of her but not surprising as they have been trying to steal our business away from the other hotel for a long time now. I didn't tell her we weren't likely to change hotels as the other one provides us exceptional service.

So I paid my money, got my room and a nice long hot shower, and proceeded over to Applebee's for dinner and a few adult beverages. I got there shortly before shift change. While sitting at the bar I struck up a conversation with some bikers from NJ in town for the big Harley party.

During the conversation I learned that they had been unable to get rooms and were staying at a campground. They were really surprised when I told them I had just checked in next door and said they were going to check it out to see if there were any rooms left. I told them I thought I had snagged the last one but maybe not.

As shift change came around in Applebee's, I got several hugs and hellos from the ladies coming on. The bikers just kind of looked at me funny and one finally said 'I thought you said you live in Florida". I laughed and told him that I do indeed live down there. He commented that everyone in the place seemed to know me quite well for someone who lives a thousand miles away. I had to explain how I am up here more than I am home due to working out of this town.

Truckers and bikers have always had an affinity, especially since a large percentage of truckers are also bikers. I had a pretty good time with them, especially after I broke out my knitting and started working on it. At first I got a couple of laughs and some good natured ribbed, but after several of the ladies working there told them how they think it's great and I showed them the sweater I had just finished their attitudes changed from humorous to impressed. One biker even admitted that he sometimes does crochet, which resulted in some hoots and ribbing from his travel companions.

All in all it was a pretty good time and it's an amazing sight to see literally thousands of Harleys all over town.

This morning when I went out to my truck to get some paperwork a female biker came over to me and asked for a light, explaining that she had lost her lighter. I had a spare one in the truck and gave it to her. We shot the shit for a few minutes and she asked me if I was going to the big party down in Milwaukee later today. I explained that I wasn't, didn't have a bike here, and would be pulling out later today. She invited me to ride down with her.

While I'd love to stick around for the party I need to get over to the yard and get my load secured and ready to go. Besides, I don't ride bitch seat with anyone.

I am really looking forward to getting home for a couple of weeks. I'll pull out some time this afternoon and start heading that way.